Pope Leo XIV met on Friday with the Provost, Fellows, and members of Oriel College at the University of Oxford as the institution marks its 700th anniversary. Established in 1326 under King Edward II, the college—formally named “the House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford”—boasts a rich history that includes alumni such as St. John Henry Newman and two Nobel laureates.
In his address, the Pope praised Oriel College for preserving its Christian identity through centuries of historical shifts. He emphasized that this heritage remains vital for maintaining the college as a vibrant community where faith and scholarship coexist, rather than functioning merely as an academic center.
Highlighting St. John Henry Newman as a prime model, Pope Leo XIV commended the English Cardinal for demonstrating the harmony of faith and reason through both his academic writings and his personal life. Newman, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2019, was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in 2025 and named co-patron of Catholic education alongside St. Thomas Aquinas. The Pope noted the practical nature of Newman’s work, which seamlessly connected deep religious convictions with rigorous scholarship.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the members of Oriel College to adopt Newman’s holistic approach to education—one that prioritizes human dignity, justice, and service to the common good. He invited the scholars to courageously pursue truth and foster an integral view of humanity, ultimate guiding academic work toward meaningful connection with others and with Christ.